Myeloid sarcoma without circulating leukemia mimicking gastrointestinal malignancy and lymphoma.

We present an unusual case of myeloid sarcoma with ascites and abdominal pain in which initial clinical, laboratory, and imaging studies suggested a gastrointestinal malignancy or lymphoma. Subsequent detection of leukemic ascites and blasts in a gastric, small bowel, and skin biopsy supported a diagnosis of myeloid sarcoma. Bone marrow biopsy revealed 15% blasts, and cytogenetics with an inversion 16 rearrangement was diagnostic of acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

Dysregulation of sphingolipid metabolism contributes to bortezomib-induced neuropathic pain.

The development of chemotherapy-induced painful peripheral neuropathy is a major dose-limiting side effect of many chemotherapeutics, including bortezomib, but the mechanisms remain poorly understood. We now report that bortezomib causes the dysregulation of de novo sphingolipid metabolism in the spinal cord dorsal horn to increase the levels of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptor 1 (S1PR1) ligands, S1P and dihydro-S1P. Accordingly, genetic and pharmacological disruption of S1PR1 with multiple S1PR1 antagonists, including FTY720, blocked and reversed neuropathic pain.

Acute myeloid leukemia induction with cladribine: Outcomes by age and leukemia risk.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) induction traditionally includes seven days of cytarabine and three days of an anthracycline (7 + 3). Because of evidence of increased efficacy of cladribine combined with this regimen, we conducted a retrospective analysis of 107 AML patients treated with idarubicin, cytarabine and cladribine (IAC) at our institution. Complete remission (CR) occurred in 71%, with overall response of 79%.

Efficacy and Toxicity of Induction Therapy with Cladribine, Idarubicin, and Cytarabine (IAC) for Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

We report our single-center experience with cytarabine and idarubicin for induction therapy for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with an additional 5 days of cladribine (IAC therapy). From July 2012 to September 2014, 38 patients completed a full course of IAC induction. Median patient age was 61 years, 61% of patients were ≥60 years old, and 71% were male.

Tumor lysis syndrome and metastatic melanoma.

Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) is a potential emergent complication of oncologic treatment. TLS is commonly reported in hematological malignancies with rapid cell turnover rates, but is relatively rare in solid tumors. TLS is most frequently a result of cancer treatment in combination with a large tumor burden, but has occasionally been reported to occur spontaneously, especially in cases of advanced or metastatic disease.

Outpatient bendamustine and idarubicin for upfront therapy of elderly acute myeloid leukaemia/myelodysplastic syndrome: a phase I/II study using an innovative statistical design.

Combinations of agents may improve outcomes among elderly acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients. We performed an adaptive phase I/II trial for newly-diagnosed AML or high-risk MDS patients aged ≥50 years using a Bayesian approach to determine whether 1 of 3 doses of bendamustine (45, 60, 75 mg/m(2) days 1-3), together with idarubicin (12 mg/m(2) days 1-2), might provide a complete response (CR) rate ≥40% with <30% grade 3-4 non-haematological toxicity. We treated 39 patients (34 AML; five MDS with >10% marrow blasts; median age 73 years).

Frequency of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation among patients with high- or intermediate-risk acute myeloid leukemia in first complete remission.

Purpose: To determine the frequency of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in first complete remission (CR1).

Patients And Methods: Between January 1, 2008, and March 1, 2011, 212 newly diagnosed patients with AML received treatment at our center. Ninety-five patients age less than 75 years with intermediate- or high-risk AML achieved a complete remission, and 21 patients achieved a morphologic remission with incomplete blood count recovery.

Strategies to reduce relapse after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation in acute myeloid leukemia.

The incidence of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is expected to increase in conjunction with our ageing population. Although it is proving to be a heterogeneous disease process, the only treatment with proven survival benefit for poor risk AML remains allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant. Although this is presumed to be a curative strategy, many patients relapse after transplant, prompting us to examine various ways that we can improve outcomes.

Gene expression changes in normal haematopoietic cells.

The complexity of the healthy haematopoietic system is immense, and as such, one must understand the biology driving normal haematopoietic expression profiles when designing experiments and interpreting expression data that involve normal cells. This article seeks to present an organised approach to the use and interpretation of gene profiling in normal haematopoiesis and broadly illustrates the challenges of selecting appropriate controls for high-throughput expression studies.

Augmented and standard Berlin-Frankfurt-Munster chemotherapy for treatment of adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

The augmented Berlin-Frankfurt-Munster (aBFM) regimen has demonstrated improved outcomes in children with acute lymphomblastic leukemia (ALL), but efficacy in adults is unknown. In this retrospective study, we evaluated clinical outcomes in 29 adult ALL patients (aged 19-70) treated with standard BFM (sBFM) or dose-intensive aBFM. Patients were stratified into risk groups based on age, cytogenetic abnormalities, peripheral leukocytosis and response to induction chemotherapy.